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MONTREAL — The first class-action lawsuit to go to trial in Quebec against alleged pedophile priests begins on Monday.

Lead plaintiff Frank Tremblay is suing the college and the order of priests associated with one of the holiest shrines in North America for millions in damages.

Tremblay claims nine priests who taught at the prestigious all-boys boarding school, located 35 km east of Quebec City, abused students between 1960 and 1987.

His lawyer, Pierre Boivin, said 50 former students have come forward, however, he added that there are potentially hundreds of former students who will demand compensation from the college if it is found guilty.

He said the case is the first of its kind to go to trial in Quebec.

The lawsuit alleges that the Saint-Alphonse College, associated with the internationally revered shrine at the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre Basilica, is responsible for damages because it failed to protect students from abuse.

Seventeen former students are expected to testify in Quebec City against nine priests who taught at the school.

One of the priests named in the lawsuit, Raymond-Marie Lavoie, is in prison after pleading guilty in 2012 to sexually abusing 13 boys at the college, including Tremblay.

Carlo Tarini, spokesman for the association of victims of pedophile priests, said the case should have been settled out of court.

"It's a scandal," he said. "We know that Lavoie abused 13 victims, it's a shame to have them re-live their abuse and to testify in open court."

QMI Agency was unable on Saturday to reach lawyers representing the church order or the college.

MONTREAL — The first class-action lawsuit to go to trial in Quebec against alleged pedophile priests begins on Monday.

Lead plaintiff Frank Tremblay is suing the college and the order of priests associated with one of the holiest shrines in North America for millions in damages.

Tremblay claims nine priests who taught at the prestigious all-boys boarding school, located 35 km east of Quebec City, abused students between 1960 and 1987.

His lawyer, Pierre Boivin, said 50 former students have come forward, however, he added that there are potentially hundreds of former students who will demand compensation from the college if it is found guilty.

He said the case is the first of its kind to go to trial in Quebec.

The lawsuit alleges that the Saint-Alphonse College, associated with the internationally revered shrine at the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre Basilica, is responsible for damages because it failed to protect students from abuse.